Rex Ryan: Jets sticking with Mark Sanchez at QB

Thursday

Dec 6, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Coach Rex Ryan is sticking with Mark Sanchez as the New York Jets' starting quarterback. Ryan announced yesterday morning that Sanchez, benched last Sunday against Arizona, will get the start this week over Greg McElroy and Tim Tebow when the Jets play the Jaguars at Jacksonville.

Coach Rex Ryan is sticking with Mark Sanchez as the New York Jets' starting quarterback. Ryan announced yesterday morning that Sanchez, benched last Sunday against Arizona, will get the start this week over Greg McElroy and Tim Tebow when the Jets play the Jaguars at Jacksonville. He'll likely be on a short leash against Jacksonville, with McElroy possibly ready to go. Tebow said he did “a lot more” in practice yesterday than he has the previous two weeks while healing from two broken ribs, but added that he's not yet 100 percent and will go for additional X-rays. It's uncertain if he will be active for Sunday's game.

The Vikings placed ailing wide receiver Percy Harvin on injured reserve. Harvin missed another practice because of a severely sprained left ankle that has kept him out of the last three games.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner has dropped the appeal of his suspension for using performance-enhancing substances and will miss the final four games of the regular season.

California wide receiver Keenan Allen will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Allen finished his career as the school's all-time leader with 205 receptions. He ranks third with 2,570 yards receiving and seventh with 17 touchdown catches. Former St. John's High star Richard Rodgers just finished his sophomore season as a Cal wide receiver. Today, Cal will introduce Louisiana Tech's Sonny Dykes as the Bears' coach, taking over for the fired Jeff Tedford. Purdue hired Darrell Hazell as its football coach. Hazell was this season's Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year after leading Kent State to its first winning season since 2001.

Rutgers is suing the Big East Conference in Middlesex County (N.J.) Superior Court, trying to avoid paying an exit fee. Rutgers is trying to avoid a $10 million hit for leaving en route to the Big Ten. Big East bylaws state a school must give 27 months' notice and pay a $10 million withdrawal fee. The suit says the Big East selectively enforced the rules.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and infielder Eric Chavez agreed to terms on a $3 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said. Chavez's new deal is pending a physical. In addition, the Diamondbacks reportedly reached agreement on a one-year deal with catcher Wil Nieves.

A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that free agent outfielder Jason Bay reached a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. The 34-year-old former Red Sox outfielder is hoping to resurrect his career with the Mariners after three disappointing and injury-plagued seasons with the New York Mets.

A person familiar with the negotiations said the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a $15 million, two-year contract with right-hander Joe Blanton. The Angels also agreed with reliever Sean Burnett on an $8 million, two-year deal.

Former Toronto Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek has won the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Cheek, who died in 2005, called the first 4,306 regular-season and 41 postseason games in the Blue Jays' history, starting in 1977.

Brooklyn Nets forward Gerald Wallace has been fined $5,000 by the NBA for flopping, joining teammate Reggie Evans as the only repeat offenders under the league's new penalty system. The league also gave L.A. Clippers veteran Chauncey Billups a warning yesterday for falling backward after launching a jumper against Utah with little or no contact.

NCAA president Mark Emmert said he still is determined to provide college athletes with $2,000 for expenses not covered by scholarships. In a surprise move last January, the Division 1 Board of Directors delayed implementing the stipends in the face of criticism from many colleges. The plan is still on hold.

American defending champion Lexi Thompson opened with a 3-under 69 at the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Ladies Masters, three shots off co-leaders Shanshan Feng and Florentyna Parker, who had first-round 66s.